Free-wheel-cycle hub with brake mechanism.



E. SACHS. FRI-1E WHEEL CYCLE HUB WITH BRAKE mncmmsm.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 2, 1908. 96,71 0, Patented June 7,1910.

s n 1 k g f w ERNST SACHS, OF SGHWEINFUR-T, GERMANY.

FREE-WHEEL-CYCLE HUB WITH BRAKE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June '7, 1910.

Application filed October 2, 1908. Serial No. 455,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNs'r SACHS, a subject of the King of Bavaria,residing at No. 24 Schultes street, Schweinfurt, in Germany, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in FreeNVheel-Oycle Hubs withBrake Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a free-wheel cycle hub with back-pedalingcoaster brake, having a driving mechanism and a brake located within thehub-barrel, a clutch device being arranged between the said appliancesfor the purpose of producing connection of the driving gear with thebrake in back-pedaling, or of releasing the driving gear from the brakeduring propelling of the cycle.

The invention more especially relates to the afore-said clutch mechanismand to the means connected therewith which are capa ble of controllingthe working of all parts rotatable within the hub, and of producing thethrowing into and out of gear of the driving clutch as well as the brakeclutch in a reliable manner.

The object of the invention is to provide a clutch mechanism which isnot only adapted to prevent rotation of certain elements of the drivinggear, which transmit the power to the brake, but exerts influence on thedriving clutch in such a manner that it will be brought into its severalpositions, as will be required in the operation of the entire freewheelmechanism. These objects are attained by the arrangement of a drag orchecking spring working against a fixed part of the device and beingconnected to the power-transmitting part, whereby its rotation withrespect to the latter is permitted within certain limits; a ratchet orpawl clutch is also controlled by the movement of the spring, so thatthe said friction spring, when throwing the driving clutch into or outof gear, disconnects and engages the brake clutch at the same time. Amechanism adapted to attain these objects is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisspecification, and in which is- Figure 1 a longitudinal sectionalelevation of the hub barrel and of the entire gear arranged therein,Fig. 2 a cross-section on the line C-D of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a sideelevation of the gear which is contained in the barrel, except thebrake-sleeve.

Like reference letters designate like parts throughout all figures ofthe drawing.

A driving sleeve 0 situated within the hub-barrel a and rotatablyarranged on the fixed axle o, carries at one end the sprocketwheel 79and is provided in its periphery with pockets having inclined faces,rollers 6 being located therein opposite to the inner face of the barrela, thus forming a ratchet clutch of the well known construction, whichis brought into its operative position by pedaling forward, anddisconnected when the barrel is overrunning the driving mechanism. Thesaid rollers e are housed in a guide ring or retainer f loosely arrangedupon the sleeve 0, which spaces the rollers in proper distances fromeach other and moves the same in synchronism. Axially projecting teeth 9and it having faces are provided at the opposite ends of the guide ringf and an intermediate annular clutch body 2' slipped on to the axle vand being rotatable and displaceable thereon in the axial direction. Aconical face provided on the periphery of the clutch-ring 2' is adjoinedby a corresponding concave conical face formed in the confronting end ofa hollow cylindrical brake body q covered with a braking surface ormantle s of any convenient braking material. The other end of the sleeve9 internally tapered in the same manner, rests upon the conical end ofthe hall cone 7) which is prevented from rotation by means of an arm afixed to the frame of the cycle. A key 79 attached to the cone p andengaging a slot in the sleeve 9 permits of its longitudinaldisplacement, but precludes rotation of the same. Each of thecylindrical bodies 9 and s which are connected with one another bysuitable means, being split lengthwise, an expansive brakeshoe isprovided which will be opened or expanded and pressed upon the innercircumference of the hub a, when in back-pedaling the clutch ring 2' isforced into the sleeve 9 by the operation of the beveled teeth 9 and h,the cone 79 exerting a similar wedging effect at the same time.

On a cylindrical projection 2' of the ring 2' is formed a peripheraldepression or pocket g having an'inclined face ascending in the beveledcontacting direction of the forward rotation of the gear (see arrow inFig. 2); a roller is placed in the pocket y projects through aperforation of a retaining-ring n and is prevented from falling out by apin or a boss 03 provided thereon. The retainer 11 which is secured uponthe part i in any suitable manner, for example as shown, by a springring sprung into a circumferential groove of the part 2' is looselyarranged upon its carrier but its rotation with respect to the same islimited by the roller is in its extreme positions at the ends of thepocket y. A flat spring 0 bent in circular shape and having one endfastened to the retainer it works with its free extremity against theinner periphery of the sleeve 9, in which are formed longitudinalgrooves Z.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the rider pedals forwardfor propelling the cycle, the rollers 6 together with their guide ringare retained by the intervention of the ring 2', which is in engagementwith the ring f, through the resistance produced by the friction of thespring 0 which slides on the inner periphery of the sleeve 9. The clutchrollers a will therefore be jammed between the inclined faces of theirpockets and the confronting face of the hub-barrel a, so that the rearwheel is now coupled with the driving gear. The roller 70 is then heldat the deeper end of the pocket and not in contact with the sleeve andit drags the spring 0 along with it. lVhen the pedals are held at restthe barrel (4 over-running the sleeve 0 will produce disengagement ofthe ratchet clutch a, while the other parts of the gear inclosed in thebarrel remain inoperative. In the backward rotation of the sleeve 0 theguide ring 7 will be coupled therewith through the rollers a, so thatthe ring 2' is axially displaced to the left by the operation of theteeth 9, h, and forced into the sleeve 9, as it has been coupled to thisnon-rotatable sleeve through the intermediation of the roller 70 byslightly rotating backward, i. c. the roller 7: held at its respectiveplace by the spring 0 will be moved outward upon the inclined bottom ofthe pocket i and engaged in a groove Z of the sleeve 1 (Fig. 2), thusfixing the ring 2' against rotation, but allowing its displacement alongand upon the axle, whereby the brake is applied, as will easily beunderstood from the foregoing description.

It is obvious that the device may be varied in different ways withoutdeparting from the principle of the invention. It is only essential thatthe friction spring works against a fixed part of the gear and that apawl-like element is adjusted and moved into its operating andinoperative positions by the said spring which must be movable withrespect to the driving gear within certain limits. Instead of thedescribed ele ments equivalent mechanisms may be employed. I, therefore,do not wish to be confined to the construct on illustrated and describedfor purpose of example, but

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. In a free wheel cycle hub the combination with driving means, of abrake for the wheel, and means interposed between said brake and thedriving means and operatable to actuate said brake, said interposedmeans including a rotatable member adapted to engage said brake andoperatable to throw it into braking contact with the hub and a clutchinterposed between said rotatable member and said brake and adapted tolock the two together when the former actuates the latter.

2. In a free wheel cycle hub, the combination with means for driving thehub, of a brake-member operatable to brake the hub, said member beingnormally inoperative, a member connected to the driving means to rotatetherewith and adapted when rotated backward to engage and throw saidbrakemcmber into braking contact with the hub, and a clutch meansbetween said member and the brake-member and adapted to lock themtogether when the former is rotated backward.

3. In a free wheel cycle hub, the combination with a driving element, ofa sleeve connected to said element to rotate therewith, a ring mountedto rotate on said sleeve, rolling means carried by said sleeve and ringand adapted to be forced by said sleeve into locking engagement with thehub on forward rotation of said driving element, a brake-sleeve adaptedto be forced into contact with the hub, a member for actuating saidbrake, said member having clutch-tooth engagement with the sleeveconnected to the driving element, and a spring interposed between saidbrake-sleeve and its actuating member, said spring being adapted to holdback said ring to have the rolling means therein engaged with the hub.

t. In a free-wheel cycle hub, the combi' nation with a driving gear, ofa brake mechanism, including fixed parts and a rotatable member which isin engagement with the driving gear, a clutch means provided on the saidrotatable member and adapted to clutch it to said fixed part, and meansmovable with respect to the said rotatable mem ber and engaging theclutch means and being in frictional engagement with fixed parts of thehub, thereby insuring operation of the clutch means.

5. In a free-wheel cycle hub, the combination with a driving gear, of abrake mechanism including a fixed part and a rotatable part, clutchingmeans arranged between the rotatable part and the fixed part of the hub,

and means movable with respect to the said fixed and rotatable parts andadapted to dispose said clutching means angularly with reference to therotatable part.

6. In a free-wheel cycle hub, the combination with a driving gear, of abrake mechanism including fixed parts and a rotatable and axiallydisplaceable part which is in positive engagement with the driving gear,a clutching element arranged between the fixed parts and the saidrotatable and axially displaceable member of the brake and carried bythe latter, and means adjustable with respect to the said rotatable andaxially displaceable brake member, so as to control the position of theclutching element, which means are in frictional engagement with thefixed parts of the hub.

7. In a free-wheel cycle hub, the combination with a driving gear, of abrake mechanism, including a fixed part of the hub and a rotatable andaxially displaceable part, a ratchet-like clutch means attached to saidrotating and axially displaceable part opposite to said fixed part ofthe hub, and a friction member carried by the said rotatable part, andmovable with respect to the latter and being also in engagement with theratchet-like clutch so as to adjust it, the said friction member actingagainst a nonrotatable part of the hub.

8. In a free-wheel cycle hub, the combination with a driving gear, of abrake mechanism including a fixed part and a rotatable wedge-shapedmember for applying the brake, said member being in positive connectionwith the driving gear, a ratchet-like clutching element attached to andmovable on the said member opposite to said fixed part of the hub, and afriction-spring having connection with said clutching element andmovable with respect to the rotatable member, its free extremity actingagainst said fixed part of the hub.

9. In a free-wheel cycle hub, the combination with a driving gear, of aroller clutch adapted to operatively connect the hub barrel and drivinggear, said clutch including a guide ring for the rollers, a brakemechanism comprising a non-rotatable brake sleeve and a rotatable andaxially displaceable wedgeshaped member, the said member having positiveoperating connection with the guide ring, a ratchet-like clutchingmember provided on the said member opposite to a fixed part of the huband adapted to lock the two together, and a friction spring movable withrespect to the said rotatable member and adapted to adjust the clutchingmember, the free extremity of the spring acting against the brakesleeve.

10. In a free-wheel cycle hub, the combination with a driving gear, of abrake mechanism comprising a fixed brake sleeve and a rotatable andaxially displaceable wedgeshaped member adapted to expand the brakesleeve, means operatively connecting the said member with the drivinggear, a rolling clutch means provided on the said member opposite tosaid fixed brake sleeve of the hub and adapted to lock the two to ether,there being grooves in the said fixed part for the engagement of theclutch means, and a friction spring movable with respect to the saidrotatable member and adapted to adjust said clutch means, the freeextremity of the spring acting against a non-rotatable part of the hub.

11. In a free-wheel cycle hub, the combination with a driving mechanismincluding a fixed part and a rotatable part, of a brake mechanism, and aclutch means, comprising a. cylindric body located in an inclined recessof said rotatable part opposite to said fixed part of the mechanism andadapted to lock the two together, and a friction spring acting againstsaid fixed part of the mechanism and being in engagement with thecylindric body, the said body and the friction spring being movablewithin limits upon said rotatable part.

12. In a free-wheel cycle hub, the combination with a driving mechanism,of a brake mechanism including a fixed part and a rotatable part, and aclutch, comprising a roller arranged upon said rotatable part oppositeto said fixed part and adapted to lock them together, grooves beingprovided in the said fixed part for the engagement of said roller, andan inclined groove being provided in said rotatable part for the roller,and a friction member having an annular body movable on the saidrotatable part and being in engagement with the roller, so as to adjustthe same, and an elastic portion working against a fixed part of themechanism and attached at one end to said friction member.

I11 testimony whereof I have set my signature to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ERNST SACHS.

Witnesses:

AUGUST FUZZER, ROBERT W. HEINGARTNER.

